Gold Star Mother Tea

 It's no secret I love what I do. There is an indescribable satisfaction that comes to my heart when I am able to share stories with others. You can't see it, but there's a heart line that forms between the listener and teller that bonds them together during the story. The storyteller is no longer simply telling a story, the storyteller and listener are sharing an experience. The experience refills my soul every time. I always feel blessed when I am invited to partake of such a moment.

Yesterday, however, the blessing went beyond the norm. I was invited to share a story at a Gold Star Mothers tea presented at The Stillwater est. 1997. The gold star represents those who have lost a son or daughter in battle. Every guest at the tea was someone who had experienced such a loss. Miss Tonia had told me that she had felt a tangible reverence as she had been preparing for the tea, so I thought I knew how I would feel. In truth, I didn't have a clue.

The emotion in the room was palatable. Pride, pain, peace, anger, ache, longing, celebration, love, wisdom, support, yearning, satisfaction - I could go on and on - it all swirled through the room. As I looked into the eyes of my listeners I realized I may have an academic understanding of the last 10+ years of war our country has been engaged in, but it's all been sterilized somehow. But yesterday, I felt the emotions these people carry in their hearts each and every day. Reverence is an understatement.

In truth I felt reverence and so much more. I also felt an overwhelming wave of pride and shame.







Pride because our nation has a completely volunteer army. There are those who claim this negates the honor somehow, as if they are all mercenaries, not patriots. Nothing could be further from the truth. A sentiment I heard voiced over and over is that these warriors were there because they felt it was where they should be. One mother shared the peace she felt from a picture of her son taken just the day before he died. The image is of children reaching out to her son [in full battle array] with obvious gratitude on their faces. The son's arm is outstretched back to the children, the look on his face is one of pure love and joy. A burned out building creates a stunning backdrop to the image. She declared the picture brought comfort because it reminded her that he was where he knew he was supposed to be serving to make the world a better place for those children and for all of us.


Shame because as a nation we've turned this into a silent war. We support the troops, we put the yellow ribbons on our cars and we thank those in uniform we see....but what of those we lose? Someone expressed to me the helplessness she feels when she sees the gold star. "I don't know what to say, nothing I say will help them, so I say nothing." I don't think she is alone in her discomfort. Can you imagine the deafening silence such an act creates in the lives of those who mourn a soldier?

I read an article yesterday that declared on average we've lost a soldier a day. Statistically, that's a dramatic improvement over the losses our nation suffered in past wars, but statistics mean nothing to the families of those dead soldiers.

I was deeply honored to spend time with these valiant survivors. The last Sunday in September is Gold Star Mother's Day in the United States. I'm pretty certain it wouldn't be too hard to find such a mother, sister, brother, father, wife, husband, cousin, or friend, near you. It seems to me a hug and a 'thank you' is a good place to begin to break the silence. Ask them to share their story. Let them tell you about their fallen hero, I promise as you listen you'll discover a heart line forming a bond for you both.

To learn more about the Gold Star Moms organization visit:
http://www.goldstarmoms.com/
http://www.goldstarmoms.com/whoweare/history/history.htm

World of Storytelling Radio

Exciting things are happening in the world of storytelling!

Not the least of which is the global outreach of A World of Storytelling Radio.
All over the world - any time - day or night - folks are tuning in to listen to stories! You can too.

Simply visit: http://www.live365.com/stations/storytellingradio

And now, I'm thrilled to announce, when you tune in to A World of Storytelling Radio, you may just get to hear one of my stories off my 2012 CD release, Wears Like Iron.

Would you rather curl up with a good book?
You'll find a few of my stories in the new book, Value Stories for a Young Woman. This is the kind of book that's perfect for road trips and lazy summer afternoons.  The book is full of inspiring stand-alone stories all carefully selected and crafted to strengthen moral courage.
Available from http://deseretbook.com/Value-Stories-Young-Woman-Marilyn-O-Diehl/i/5085535

Heart to Heart

The stories featured on Wears Like Iron are all about generations connecting heart to heart. I crafted them imagining families bonding and snuggling closer as they listened. Yesterday, I experienced a gift of Grace as I witnessed just that. Four generations were represented in my audience. (As well as some inquisitive wild life.)                      

That spells P-E-R-F-E-C-T for me!

Tonia, my dear friend, and proprietor of the Stillwater Mansion, created a magical space for the sharing of my tales. My love of nature, people, story, and God were all beautifully represented and honored in her garden sanctuary. Consequently the afternoon felt more like a blessing than performance and my audience felt more like family.

Whenever I tell a story I feel as if I am fulfilling a calling. For whatever reason I believe I've been given this gift to help bring light and wonder more fully present into this world. I always feel satisfaction after I've told.

But yesterday was extra-ordinary, what I thought was a gift to others was actually a gift to myself.

The afternoon was renewing, affirming, enlightening, and motivating. I felt closer to those I have lost. I saw the impact of my words on the hearts of my listeners with deeper clarity. I felt embraced and carried. I felt validated and assured I should continue on.

I am left invigorated and grateful...and filled with longing to do it all again! If you weren't with us - I missed you. Tonia's garden is waiting - let me know when you want to play.

By the way - I'm leaving my CD special open for a week. It's the best way I can think of to share the joy. Just click on the Buy Now button within my last post.

CD Release Party Special

Hey!
Wishing you could come to Idaho Falls for the "official" release party of my new CD, Wears Like Iron, but you simply can't? Well - you can still get in on the release party price. Click the button and order today. Hurry - this post will disappear come Monday, June 18th.

Help spread the word and bring some friends. Plan to come!!! The performance is FREE.

Saturday 16 June
2:00 PM
387 North Water
Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Stillwater Mansion Est. 1997 presents:
Teresa Clark telling stories from her new CD, Wears Like Iron.
There's nothing that compares to hearing a live storytelling performance. Come hear Teresa share the tracks from her latest CD surrounded by the victorian ambiance of the Stillwater.
RSVP 208-200-4473

Principle Based Learning Likes My Story!

Principle Based Learning selected my story, There Was a Time, to inspire families to take time to  look for those deeper feelings that come when connecting with family on any level. Coming from this organization I consider that quite the powerful complement! 
But it works out to be a nice gift for you too! Click on their link: http://pbparent.principlebasedlearning.com/?p=197  
and listen to my story! 
If you like what you hear feel free to purchase the whole CD simply by pushing the Buy Now button. 


What is Principle Based Learning (PBL)?
While researching the best sources about what makes for great teaching and learning, the founders of PBL searched for common threads among the writings of great thinkers, mentors and authors such as Charlotte Mason, Maria Montessori, John Holt, Stephen R. Covey, John Taylor-Gatto, Oliver and Rachel DeMille and others. They looked for the themes that were repeated over and over throughout this literature and ended up with 7 Principles. As people learn, apply and teach these principles for themselves, great learning will manifest. They have adopted storytelling as an educational tool in their programs and started a family storytelling club.

I love what they had to say about storytelling on their blog:

Learn more about Principle Based Learning here: http://www.principlebasedlearning.com/


Eastern Idaho
Don't you just love a good story? 
Reserve your spot for the FREE storytelling concert!
June 16th
2 pm 
Stillwater Mansion
387 North Water - Idaho Falls
Presents a CD Release Party for Teresa Clark. 
I will be telling all of the stories from my new CD, "Wears Like Iron." 
This event is free, but reservations are required: 200-4473. 


"In her sweet, clear voice, Teresa Clark blends folktale and personal story, generations of family wisdom and experience, and the wonder of rare insights that seem to come only after we have lived long enough for our memories to span the decades."


"Teresa Clark delivers! Her easy telling style calls us home, back to the people and places that give us the gentle strength and life lessons we so dearly need. These are stories that can be listened to over and over again whether you are by yourself or with a loved one." 


Learn more about the Stillwater Mansion est. 1997:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Stillwater-Est-1997/202718456496819?sk=info

Listen to the Review

     My favorite line from the recent review of my CD is spontaneous shared at the end of the interview:

"This is the kind of CD that's going to have people talking about similar mishaps and similar instances in their own lives - which is what personal stories do, that's why so many of us tell them because when we tell them we get to hear so many delicious stories."

     I'd love to hear your delicious stories spawned from listening to my CD. Get the CD by clicking on the Buy Now button on your right. Listen - then share your stories with me!!!

         You can listen to Linda Goodman's review of "Wears Like Iron" at http://www.herewomentell.com/archives/archives.html   (I'm #68)  

Save the date! 

June 16th - 2 pm 

387 North Water

Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Stillwater Mansion Est. 1997

Presents: Wears Like Iron CD Release Party 

There's nothing that compares to hearing a live storytelling performance. Come hear Teresa share the tracks from her latest CD surrounded by the victorian ambiance of the Stillwater. 

RSVP 208-200-4473

Wears Like Iron - Review

Check out this legit review that is scheduled to be featured on Here Women Tell (http://www.herewomentell.com/) beginning May 14th!

I don't tell for fame or glory, I tell in the hopes my experiences can touch, lift, or inspire others. I tell because I believe our world will be a better place if we can only understand and respect one another. Linda Goodman's generous review makes me feel as if my efforts have wings.

Thank you, Linda.

Wears Like Iron - Reviewed by Linda Goodman 

            "In her sweet, clear voice, Teresa Clark blends folktale and personal story, generations of family wisdom and experience, and the wonder of rare insights that seem to come only after we have lived long enough for our memories to span the decades.

            In Wears Like Iron, Teresa bears her heart to the listener, and the listener feels honored to be a confidant.   There Was a Time wraps a personal story about an inconvenient grandmother inside an honored folktale that pays homage to the wisdom of the aged.  Think that youngsters are not interested in the lives of pioneers? Think again.

            Grandpa’s Gift is a story of religious bigotry going up against a wall of faith.  Courage passed from generation to generation is doubly strong. Bigotry and ignorance do not stand a chance against a true believer.

            Watch It will bring a smile to the face of anyone who has ever had a bad experience as a new driver. Can bad driving really be genetic?

            The title track from this CD, Wears Like Iron, is a thing of beauty. The Barbizon satin that Clark uses in her quilting is “soft as a whisper, cool to the touch, and wears like iron.”  The ties that bind, however, are formed by family love. Clark reminds us of this in a way that we will not soon forget.

            Clark’s stories are rich in detail and exquisite imagery.  As I listened, I vividly saw the grandmother who rolled her support hosiery down “like donuts” and let them fall “in a puddle” at her feet. I felt Clark’s fear as she was confronted by one who did not respect her faith.  I remembered driving mishaps from days past. I reached for my mother’s quilts for comfort. For me, this CD was a walk down Memory Lane, one that I did not mind taking, for a change.

            Laura Dowling designed a beautiful cover, featuring a sepia toned heart, that perfectly captures the intensity that builds through this CD.  There were some distractions created by glitches in the sound, particularly in There Was a Time, but they did not take away from my enjoyment of the stories. Clark’s fine writing and melodic voice form a magic carpet that lifts the stories beyond technical imperfections."

 Buy Wears Like Iron here! Simply click on the Buy Now button in the column on the right.

Save the date! 

June 16th - 2 pm 

387 North Water
Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Stillwater Mansion Est. 1997
Presents: Wears Like Iron CD Release Party 

There's nothing that compares to hearing a live storytelling performance. Come hear Teresa share the tracks from her latest CD surrounded by the victorian ambiance of the Stillwater. 

RSVP 208-200-4473